HTML DOCTYPE... whats that ???

Ever wondered what is this doc type doing at the top of every HTML screen when you start building htm's in dreamweaver...... NOPE, frankly speaking I just blindly followed what dream weaver published, but was forced to learn more on the logic behind that because all HARSHLY UI recruiters started asking the defination of DOC type and why is it been used...

Why specify a doctype? Because it defines which version of (X)HTML your document is actually using, and this is a critical piece of information needed by browsers or other tools processing the document.

For example, specifying the doctype of your document allows you to use tools such as the Markup Validator to check the syntax of your (X)HTML (and hence discovers errors that may affect the way your page is rendered by various browsers). Such tools won't be able to work if they do not know what kind of document you are using.

But the most important thing is that with most families of browsers, a doctype declaration will make a lot of guessing unnecessary, and will thus trigger a "standard" parsing mode, where the understanding (and, as a result, the display) of the document is not only faster, it is also consistent and free of any bad surprise that documents without doctype will create.



So start with an basic defination, ul, liThe !DOCTYPE declaration is the very first thing in your HTML document, before the html tag. This tag tells the browser which HTML or XHTML specification the document uses.

According to HTML standards, each HTML document requires a document type declaration. The "DOC TYPE" begins the HTML document and tells a validator which version of HTML to use in checking the document's syntax

HTML 4 Strict

The document type declaration for HTML 4.01 Strict is

"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

HTML 4 Strict is a trimmed down version of HTML 4 that emphasizes structure over presentation. Some elements and attributes (including most presentational attributes), frames, and link targets are not allowed in HTML 4 Strict. By writing to HTML 4 Strict, authors can achieve accessible, structurally rich documents that easily adapt to style sheets and different browsing situations. However, HTML 4 Strict documents may look bland on very old browsers that lack support for style sheets..... so think twice before electing to this

NOT RECOMMENDED.... until client cries a lot demands for the same


HTML 4 Transitional

The document type declaration for HTML 4.01 Transitional is

"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">


HTML 4 Transitional includes all elements and attributes of HTML 4 Strict but adds presentational attributes, elements, and link targets.

RECOMMENDED highly.....


HTML 4 Frameset

"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/frameset.dtd">

HTML 4 Frameset is a variant of HTML 4 Transitional for documents that use frames. The FRAMESET element replaces the BODY in a Frame set document.

Not sure because people are nowadays going away from FRAMES.... use it when there is a FRAME

Some designations on Usability

For some who are unaware or bit confused or for some who term UI guys as web designers (harsh part is even my wife thinks the same), I am forced to do research on this and list it down some designations of members who are into usability…. And what they do, Here we go….

1. Interaction Designer

Interaction designer is often associated with the design of system interfaces but also concentrates on the aspects of the interface that define and present its behavior over time, with a focus on developing the system to respond to the user's experience and not the other way around.

2. User Interface Designer

UI Designer is someone who is involved in designing of computers, appliances, machines, mobile communication devices, software applications, and websites with the focus on the user's experience and interaction.

Now role of a Graphic designer or web designer is to apply a theme or style to the interface without looking into END user’s look or in other terms its called user centered design…. This is where a user interface designer comes into picture wherein he not only designs it but also sees to this that it’s easily accessible or user friendlier to the END USER, who will be actually using the thing. So in other words people who used to work as web or graphic visualizer are automatically converting to UI designer, only exceptions like AD AGENCY people who debate on this term and say that it kills creativity, maybe to an extent yes but in a long term view, even visual ads are been made fro whom…. For whom…. For common man right ????? so why make absurd ads in the name of creativity to make people think what it is…..

3. GUI Designer
A graphical user interface (GUI) is a type of user interface which employ graphical icons, visual indicators or special graphical elements, along with text, labels or text navigation to represent the information and actions available to a user. The actions are usually performed through direct manipulation of the graphical elements….. it’s almost same in lines with UI designer but some people term it as GUI designer to make it technically sound.

4. User Experience Designer

User experience design is a subset of the field of experience design which pertains to the creation of the architecture and interaction models which impact a user's perception of a device or system. The scope of the field is directed at affecting "all aspects of the user’s interaction with the product: how it is perceived, learned, and used….

MORE polished version of UI designer

5. Visual Designer

It’s almost the same as UI designer but this person gives more emphasis to visual components. Generally in most design firms Visual Designers are hired to create or visualize the design (mostly adding 3D elements…. Sort of ), but to me he should be someone who can effectively use graphical elements to meet the user centered principle.

Other designation like

User researcher

Usability Analyst

Usability Architects

Managerial level.... ya some firms do have

Business Analyst - Usability

Principal Usability head or lead

Are more inclined towards research and focus completely on adapting usability principles and user centric approach towards organization and projects, they rely on user experience and do full study on human behaviour, so they take help of designers to make their research into practice and to make it presentable.

In reality we all, I mean UI, interaction, etc, etc…… designers all do the same thing but many are not aware about what we do.

I realized that while on working for a long time in design field, slowly inclined to that not purposefully or forcefully but through nature of work or projects, at some period you will realize this that for whom are you designing for yourself or for users ???